Auxiliary ignition system for gas-engines



R, R. SHAW. AUXILIARY IGNITION SYSTEM FOR GAS ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED Me. I. 1919.

1,894,944. Patented Oct. 25, 1921..

' :JWWMJM Richard R. Shaw.

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RICHARD R. SHAW, OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA.

AUXILIARY IGNITION SYSTEM FOR GAS-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

Application filed December 1, 1919. Serial No. 341,836.

To all whom it may concern Be it known thatv I, RICHARD R. SHAW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fresno, in the county of Fresno and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Auxiliary Ignition Systems for Gas-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an auxiliary ignition system for gas engines.

In this specification and the annexed drawing I disclose my invention in the form which 1 consider the best, but I do not limit my invention to such form because it may be embodied in other forms, and it is to be understood that in and by the claims following the description herein I intend tocover my invention in whatever form it may be embodied.

Referring to the drawing.

Figure 1 is a cross sectionalview of a gas engine and my invention applied thereto, the gearing casing of my invention being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of my invention taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the gearing.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the distributer.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged end view of the distributer with the cap removed.

In the drawing 1 indicates a casing suitably mounted, through which extends and in which is journaled shafts 2 and 3, the shaft 3 being suitably journaled. On one end of shaft 2 is journaled a gear 4 to which is at tached one end of a spring 5 coiled around and attached at its other end to said shaft. A pinion 6 secured on a crank 7 journaled in bearing 8 meshes with gear 4. On shaft 2 are secured pinions 9 and 10 adapted respectively to mesh with pinions 12 and 13 secured on shaft 3. A lever 14 pivoted at 15 on casing 1 has a pin 16 at one end which Y engages an annular groove 17 in shaft 3 whereby said shaft is shifted to bring the pinions 12 and 13 respectively into engagement with gears 9 and 10. A clutch. 18 including members 19 and 20 secured respectively to one end of shaft 3 and to a bracket 21 secured to casing 1, is provided for clutching the shaft when the shaft is shifted to the extreme left to prevent turning of the shaft and unwinding of spring 5. A distributer 25 is mounted on the end of shaft 3 opposite the end on which clutch member 19 is mounted. Said distributer includes a cylindrical cup 26 made of insulating material and formed with a sleeve 27 through which extends shaft 3, contacts 28, 29, 30 and 31 mounted on the wall of said cup, a contact wiper arm 32 slidably mounted on said shaft adjacent the end of sleeve 27, and a cap 33 which screws on the open end of cup 25 and is formed with a sleeve 34 fitting on shaft 3 against the arm 32, the arm being maintained in alinement with said contacts by the engagement thereof with the ends of said sleeves. The shaft 3 is formed with a longitudinal slot 35 in which slides a key 36 on the arm 32 whereby the arm is slidably keyed to the shaft. The contacts 28, 29, 30 and 31 are respectively connected by leads 38, 39, 40 and 41 to the spark plugs 42, 43, 44 and 45 which are included in the usual ignition system of the engine. One pole of a battery is connected to one end of a wire 51, the other end of which is connected to the shaft 3. A lead 52 is connected at one end to the other pole of the battery 50 and at its other end to the casing of the engine.

A detent 55 engages the teeth of the pinion 6 to prevent unwinding of the spring 5 and rotation thereby of the distributer arm 32.

If the regular ignition system breaks down its work may be performed by my auxiliary ignition system upon winding up the spring 5, by means of cranks 7 and allowing the spring to run down and rotate arm 32 into successive contact with contacts 28, 29, 30 and 31. The interval between sparks may be varied by shifting the gears 12 or 13 respectively into engagement with gear 9, or 10.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. An auxiliary ignition system for gas engines including a shaft, a spring for rotating said shaft, a plurality of gears on said shaft, a second shaft, a plurality of gears on said second shaft, means for causing the gears on the second shaft to mesh respecsecond shaft, means for causing the gears on tively with companion gears on said first the second shaft to mesh respectively With shaft and a distributer on said second shaft. companion gears on said first shaft and a 10 2. An auxiliary ignition system for gas endistributer on said Second shaft and means gines including a shaft, a spring for rotating for locking the spring against unwinding.

said shaft, a plurality of gears on said shaft, In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

a second shaft a plurality of gear'on said RICHARD R. SHAWV. 

